belassen
leave
Es bedeutet, etwas nicht zu ändern und es so zu lassen, wie es ist.
Definition & meaning
The German verb "belassen" primarily means to leave something in its current state, place, or condition. It implies a conscious decision not to change, move, or interfere with something. It is often used in formal or official contexts.
There are two main nuances to its meaning:
- To leave something as it is: This refers to keeping a situation, a decision, or an object unchanged. For example, "etwas beim Alten belassen" means to leave something exactly as it was before.
- To allow someone to stay in a position: This is used when a person is permitted to keep their job, rank, or location instead of being moved or dismissed. For example, a manager might be "belassen" in their office despite a company restructure.
Grammar & Word origin
The word "belassen" is a strong (irregular) verb. Its conjugation follows the root verb lassen.
- Present: er/sie/es belässt
- Präteritum: er/sie/es beließ
- Perfekt: hat belassen
Morphologically, the word is composed of the inseparable prefix be- and the base verb lassen. The prefix "be-" often serves to make a verb transitive or to direct the action specifically toward an object. In this case, it transforms the general idea of "letting/leaving" into the specific act of "leaving something in its place/state."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- beibehalten (to maintain/keep)
- lassen (to let/leave)
- konservieren (to preserve/conserve)
- festschreiben (to codify/fix in place)
- verbleiben (to remain – used in related contexts)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Lass uns das Thema dabei belassen.verb
Let's leave the topic at that.
Man sollte alles so belassen, wie es ist.verb
One should leave everything as it is.
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